Resilient tire for vehicles.



' To otlavh'om 'it may concern: Bei known that I, GEORGE Oris Daarna,-

GEoRGncTIs DRAI'ER, or HornnALn, MASSAGHUSETTS. l

` Rnsrnrnn'r 'man ron VEHIcLns.

Specication of Letters Patent. Pate-11h61 KGV.

v.Application led April 5, 1999, Serial No. 487,922.

a citizen of the United States,'and .residentof Hopedale, county of V'Vorcester, State of jMassachusetts, have invented an Improve- Ament 111 Resilient Tires for Vehicles, of'

which the following description, in connectlon w1th=the accompanying drawing, is a specifica tion, like letters on the drawing rep-.

resentingflike parts.

Thisinvention has for its object'the pro- 'ductionv 'of a novel resilient tire for the I wheels of vehicles, particularly adapted for use 1n ,connectlon with automobiles, the tire embodying my present invention -compris- 111g an outside casing or shoe asit is commonly termed, and a peculiar and novel core inclosed within the shoe, to provide for the `prgper support and distension thereof.

-arious schemeshave been proposed heretofore'for constructing a tire by putting in- Hated resilient balls Vwithin the shoe, and in s ome' of those-structures means have been provided foiholding the balls, but so far as I am aware such tiresV have vnever advanced beyond the' experimental stage.V Such "devices have been defective for the reason that, without a holding .device to ll the inter'stices between the balls, no proper support was furnished to the shoe when in use,

and -when a holding device was used `the character -and construction `thereof eliminated.A from the assembledtire the requisite resiliency.

In my lnvention the core comprehends a series of resilient members, preferably inllated balls, and a holder therefor, but I have` obviatedY the objections hereinbefore noted by so constructing the holder that the said resilient members are properly supported [at the inner side of the tire, that is, nearer the wheel rim or -felly,z-While at the outer or tread side they are permitted to yield sufh'ciently toaifordl the necessary resiliency tothe tire as a whole. There is no intermediate covering between the balls 'and the adjacent innersurface of the shoe, and the 'i positioning and shape of the balls provide clearance spaces between them at the outer side of the core into which they can expand under pressure. I=make the core of lnolded rubber, and of a cellular nature, to provide cells or pockets having their longitudinal axes radial to the center of the tire and opening outward, so that the balls inserted therein will bear directlyv againstV the interior of the shoe adjacent the tread portion thereof. A

ing of the core, as will be explained herein` after.

The various novel features of my inven. tion will be fully described-in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in.

the following claims.

Figure l is a side elevation and part longitudinal section on thelinel-l, Fig. 3, of a portion/ of a'resilienttire embodying my invention, a short length only of the shoe being shown in elevation 'in order to more clearly discloser the' structure of the core; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. l, with the shoe omitted atthe left hand side. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3,.Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevation on a smaller scale of two segmental sections of the core, forming a semi-circle, with the shoe omitted; F ig.`5 is ,a transverse section through the core on the -In Figs. l and 3 I have indicated the Wheel-rim or felly at A, provided with shoeclamping means of any suitable character, suchf as opposed clamping members B flanged tocgripnthe rim and to overhang annular metallic retaining members G, ar-

ranged to vseat upon the oppositely turned annular lips s of the tire-shoe S and draw together its separated edges at the inner circum' ference ofthe shoe, as at s", Fig'. 3, each pair of clamping members B being drawn together by means of a bolt c and nut c. This form of shoe and the means for clamping it upon the rim A constitute one of the socallcd quick detachable tire devices of Well known construction and not of my in-v .ventioin but inasmuch as such construction Suitable means are 'provided tov prevent longitudinal4 movement or creepis especially adapted for use in connection with the' core invented by me I have illustrated it as forming a part of the completed or assembled tire. It will be understood that the pairs of clamping members are applied at intervals, the inner side of the shoe being transversely notched or recessed for the clamping bolts c, as usual. The core of the tire, in accordance wlth my invention, comprises a series of resilient members D, preferably hollow and inflated balls of thick rubber, possessing strength and a high. degree of resiliency combined with relatively light Weight, and a holder E for said balls. This holder is preferably made in segmental sections,.and conveniently of such length that whenvfour are assembled end to end they complete the circle, each section being made of rubber and comprisingv a body portion e provided with a seriesvof pockets or cells e to receive the balls, the open end of each'pocket being toward the outer or tread side of the shoe. The Abottom of each pocket or cell is made semi-spherical, as at e2, Fig. 1, to permit thev 'ball to seat snugly and firmly therein, and

the pocket is continued outward to its mouth by a relatively thin and flexible circular wall e3 molded on the body e of the core, the balls being normally of such. diameter that when .seated they will project above the tops -of the cell Walls 6.3, as shown in Fig. 5. 1t will be seen from said Fig. 5, wluch 1s a transf ve'rse sectlon taken between two adjacent cells, that the cells are separated from each other by transverse walls e4 which are of substantially uniform thickness inward as far as the semi-spherical bottoms e2 of the cells or pockets, and then gradually thicken,

as shown in Fig.`l. The contiguous portions of two adjacent circular walls e3 rise from the intervening transverse wall et which separates the two cells corresponding to such of the holder E serves to support and space apart the balls, with each one exposed at the outer end of its cell or pocket, Fig. 5, and while the tubular portions e3 of the cells are flexible the inner ends .or ball-seats e2 thereof are formed i'n a very solid part or body e of the holder. Thus the balls seat on -a firm and relatively 'unyielding support, viz:the solid body of the holder,'\vhich is adjacent the inner circumference of the shoe S when` the parts are assembled, While the outer circumferentiall portion of the core,

adjacent the tread .of thev shoe, is relativelyv elastic 4and yielding,"because of the exposed portions of the balls and the Walls e3 of their cells. Now the normal diameter ofthe balls,

and the cross-sectional. area of. the body e ofthe holder, is such that when the core 1s inclosed Within the shoe and the latter is clamped down upon the rim the balls wlll all be subjected to sullicient pressure to flatten them and fold the outer ends of the cellwalls e3 over uponthem, as shown by full lines Fig. 3.v The exposed portions of the balls press directly upon the inner surface of the shoe S adjacent its tread portion, as will'beapparent from F igs. 1 and 3, and as theilanged edges of theslioe are drawn to- This cellular construction gether upon the rim A the balls are subjected to'sutlicient compression to flatten them and press them outmore or less into the open ends of the cells or` pockets, while the portions -of thc'b'alls nearer the rim are firmly supported and held yfrom distortion by the seats in the solid part of the holder and by the adjacent part ofthe shoe. This causes the balls to form a very resilient yet sufiiciently `firm support for the shoe acljacent its tread portion when 'the'vload lis applied to the wheel, and the flatteningl of the balls increases the extent of surface on the shoe directly sustained thereby. More or less of the intervening parts are sustained by the compressed and folded over parts M of the cell walls e3, 'and the transverse wallsv e4 provide additional support for the shoe at intervals throughout its extent.

lVhile my improved tire is in a sense pneumatic, owing to the inflated. balls o f the core, it is-notan inflatable tire, as that term is commonly employed, and `it will be observed tha't I have done away with an inner tube, so that in case of puncture the tire is not rendered useless in whole qr in part. That is, if the shoe is penetrated by a nail, or otherwise, between two of the balls there is absolutelyno change in the action of the v tire, for the penetrating device enters nothing-in the core but solld rubber( If a ball be penetrated the air therein will. escape, but the resiliency of the tire is not appreciably altered, for the supportalforded by the other.

balls and bythe-parts of the body ofthe core nullify the effects of defiation of the penetrated `ball. 'As a matterv of factseveraly of the balls may be enetrated without utting the tire out o commission, and t ere ioncan be no rim cutting under anyv circumstances. rVhen an ordinary pneumatic tire 1s punctured any further progress of the c'ar'wlth the deflated tire causes the shoe toflatten and l bend against the edges of therim, andthe shoe is cut very quickly.'` With my tire this is not possible because of .the solid character.v

a lighter shoe with my core than. can be used',

with safety-'with aninflatable tube, so that thel weight of. my .assembled` tl'rej 1s verylittle greater than an ordinary form .ilatable tire for a-given-'size of; Wheel: i-The l" blow out withl torted more or less Vwhen underl pressure, and

. to more or less lill such `spaces, see" Figs. 1

and 3, without crowding upon *each other,

gns the hollder at jll timesmaintains the a' roperyspace iste axes ofthe pockets or cells radial to the center of the v'vheel.v

- In Fig. 3 I' have shown by dotted lines at Dx the normal outline of the ball when un compressed by the inclosingfshoe. j

It is convenient both in manufactureand for convenience in handling to make the vballliolders segmental, and so far as I am now able to state I believe that each holder should be a quarter-circle, its radius of curvature being of course determined by the diameter of the Wheel to which it is to be applied.

To obviate any tendency of the core to move longitudinally or creep in vthe shoe I provide the ball-holder on its inner circumference with a projection or teat e* to enter the usual valve-hole in the shoe and rim, only one holder of a set being so arranged..

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a very considerable portion of the' tread of theshoe at each side of its center line is sustained by 'direct engagement of the balls with the inner surface of the-shoe, thereby eifecting a better distribution of the pressure and resulting in easier riding properties for the tire. l

The ball-holder can be made of low-grade,

' cheap rubber, readily molded to shape, and

no change is required in the structure' of the shoe for the application thereto of-the core hereinA described.

Various changes or modifications in details of construction maybe made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as expressed in the annexed claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :e ,r

l. The combination with a wheel rim provided with shoe-clamping means, and ashoe con'nectedwith the rini by said means, of a core for the shoe, comprising a li older and a series of inflated balls mounted therein, the normal cross-sectional area of the-core being greater than that of the interior of the shoe,

-whereby the 'balls and adjacent portions of the holder are compressed by and Within theA shoe when the latter is acted upon by the clamping means.v

2. The combination with a wheel rim prost shown in F ig. 4, the, longitudinal'- of the core'are4 for the shoe,comprisingiaplurality of seg-f4.

mental holders, `and la series ofinilated ballsmounted, in each holder 'and exposed :at the"- Si outer circumference thereoft-he' normal sizel' .ofthe yballs beingy such 4rthat they .are-held I under'compressionby thefshoefwhen thella-t-f f telf-is` vconnected vwith the .wheel vrim by' the clamping means. A Y

3. A .wheel rim provided with shoe-attaching means, a shoe held on the wheel rim by s aid means, a flexible, cellular holder within the shoe, and inflated elastic balls mounted Ain ythe cells of theholder and held under pressure by the overlying shoe when the latter is attached to the wheel rim, said balls acting to support thev shoe adjacent the tread portion thereof. Y l 4. A shoe core for resilient tires, compris- 111g a holder h-aving a series of ball-receiving pockets vopen toward the tread side ofthe shoe, and ,resilient balls in the pockets to bear directly against the interior surface of the shoe when assembled therewith.

5. In a core for resilient tire shoes, a segmental ball-holder of molded rubber provided with a series of radial cells or pockets having their openings at th`c longitudinally convex side of the holder. i

6. A core for resilient tire shoes, comprising a resilient, segmental holder having a series of radial ball-receiving pockets open at their outer ends adjacent the longitudinally convex side of the holder, and inflated rubber balls seated in the pockets and project- -ing beyondthe open ends thereof.

v 7 A core lfor resilient tire shoes, comprising a resilient, segmental holder having a series of radialball-receiving pockets open at their Outer'endS, and semi-spherical at their inner ends, and removable inflated ballsseated in the semi-spherical portions of the pockets and projecting beyond the outer ends thereof adjacent the peripheral portion of the hOld'er.

8. A core for resilient tire shoes, comprising aresilient, segmental holder having a body portion provided with a row of semispherical seats and tubular, flexible extensions projecting outwardly therefrom, to form ball-receiving cells, a solid portion of moi roo

the body separating adjacent seats, and reprising yholding member of rubber pro' In testimony whereof, I have signed-'my f vided with raidal cells separated at their name to this specication, in the presence of -10 balls in the cells and projecting beyond the outer, Open ends, @1nd aV series of nated two subscribing Witnesses. v GEORGE OTIS DRAPER.

surface vof the holding member, tO form air i spaces between adjacent, balls and between Witnesses:

the shoe and the outer portion of the holding JOHN C. EDWARDS, y

THOMAS J. Dimitri. ...11). 

